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SUGGESTED WEED CONTROL CALENDAR FOR

TALL FESCUE SOD FIELDS

Prepared by:

Tim R. Murphy, Extension Agronomist - Weed Science

2002

NOTE: ALL HERBICIDE RATES ARE PRODUCT RATES PER ACRE.

MONTH	RECOMMENDED WEED CONTROL PRACTICE¹
Late November through December	Apply 2.0 qts. of 2,4-D (3.8 lb/gal formulation) or a "two-way or three-way" broadleaf herbicide to control wild garlic (onions), dandelions and plantains. Add 0.25% v/v of a nonionic surfactant with 2,4-D or the "two-way or three-way" broadleaf herbicide. 2,4-D and the "two-way or three-way" broadleaf herbicides are safe to use on fall-seeded tall fescue that has been mowed 3 to 5 times.
Mid-January to Mid-February	If wild garlic was treated with 2,4-D, repeat the application 6 to 8 weeks after the first application. If control is not sufficient with a "two-way or three-way" broadleaf herbicide, repeat the application.
Mid-February to March 15	Apply Ronstar 2G at 150.0 lbs. per acre per acre to control summer annual grasses such as crabgrass and goosegrass. DO NOT apply Ronstar to tall fescue that was seeded after November 1.
May through June	If crabgrass, bahiagrass or dallisgrass becomes a problem in tall fescue use MSMA at a rate of 1/3 gal./acre (6.0 lb./gal. formulation). Drive 75DF at 1.0 lb./acre may also be used for crabgrass control. Tall fescue tolerance to MSMA decreases at air temperatures above 85⁰ F and can decrease stand density. Alternatively, Acclaim Extra at 13 to 39 fl. oz. may be used for annual grass (crabgrass, fall panicum, goosegrass, etc.) control in tall fescue. DO NOT apply Acclaim Extra to tall fescue sod within 4 weeks before cutting for transplanting Fusilade II at 5.0 to 6.0 fl. oz. per acre + 0.25% v/v nonionic surfactant may be used in tall fescue to suppress bermudagrass. Make the first application in April-May as bermudagrass resumes growth and repeat in Sept.-Oct. to control regrowth. DO NOT apply Fusilade II during the hot summer months. For broadleaf weeds, use an amine formulation of 2,4-D or a "two-way or three-way" broadleaf herbicide. 2,4-D + MCPP + dicamba, MCPP + 2,4-D + dicamba, 2,4-D + MCPP + 2,4-DP are commonly available formulations of "three-way" herbicide mixtures. Non-typical turfgrass weeds (common ragweed, sicklepod, morningglories, others) will be controlled by repeated mowings. It is usually not necessary to use a herbicide to control this group of weeds.
June through July	If purple nutsedge becomes a problem, apply Manage at 1 1/3 oz. + 0.5% v/v nonionic surfactant Basagran T/O at 3.0 pts. can be used to control yellow nutsedge and various annual sedges. Repeat the application as directed on the herbicide label. Manage at 2/3 to 1 1/3 ounces per acre plus 0.5% v/v nonionic surfactant may also be used for yellow nutsedge control. Tall fescue has excellent tolerance to Manage.

¹Other herbicides may be substituted for many uses discussed in this calendar. Refer to the current issue of the Georgia Pest Control Handbook.

General guidelines for herbicide use on tall fescue sod fields.

Use a spray volume of 20 to 40 gpa.

DO NOT apply postemergence herbicides if summer air temperatures are greater than 90⁰ F.

Preemergence herbicides should be used only on well-established tall fescue where the sod will not be cut for transplanting purposes for 8 to 12 weeks after application.

READ THE LABEL OF ALL HERBICIDES THAT WILL BE USED.